Question

What is the importance of the photolysis of water?

Answer 1

Photosynthesis:

1. Photosynthesis is a biochemical process in which plants produce their own food (carbohydrates).
2. During photosynthesis, 6 molecules of CO₂ and 12 molecules of water react to produce 1 molecule of glucose, 6 molecules of O_2, and 6 molecules of H₂O.

The chemical equation of photosynthesis:

$6C{O}_2+12H_{2}O\underset{chlorophyll}{\overset{sunlight}{\to }}\frac{C_6{H}_{12}{O}_6}{\left(carbohydrate\right)}+\frac{6O_2}{\left(oxygen\right)}\uparrow +\frac{6H_{2}O}{\left(water\right)}$

The importance of water in photosynthesis is:

1. Water is an important raw material for photosynthesis.
2. During the light reaction, light energy is utilized. By using light energy, water is split to form oxygen, and hydrogen and electron are released. This is known as the photolysis of water.
3. Water acts as a reducing agent that provides H⁺ ions and it converts NADP to NADPH.
4. The different dissolved mineral is absorbed by the plants along with the water.
5. It also helps to produce ATP during the light phase.